Translations:Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Recreation/Camping Skills I/20/en

c. Know how to properly strike a match.

Three things are needed for a fire to start: oxygen, fuel, and heat. The match head is a fuel that can be ignited at about 360°F (182°C), which can be obtained through friction. The oxygen is supplied by the air. To strike a match, quickly and firmly drag the match head along the striker pad on the side of the box or outside of the package. Keep your fingers away from the match head. Once the head ignites, the temperature will increase sharply and ignite the match stick. Fire prefers to climb uphill, and you can control the size of the flame to a certain extent by tilting the head down (for a bigger flame) or up (for a smaller flame). Carefully shield the flame from wind (which lowers the temperature) by cupping your other hand around the flame and move it to the tinder you wish to light.